Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Bethan Jenkins AM today publicly backed WWF’s Earth Hour initiative and urged constituents, local businesses and organisations to also sign-up to the big switch off later this month.On Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm individuals, businesses and public authorities in over 930 cities across 80 countries will turn off their lights for one hour in a graphic show of support for decisive action on climate change.

Across the world landmarks taking part include Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Nelson’s Column in London and Christ the Redeemer statute in Rio de Janeiro. Here in Wales, iconic landmarks already committed to switching off include the Millennium Stadium Caerphilly castle, Caernarfon castle, the Senedd building and St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay. Also nearly 70 per cent of all Welsh councils are onboard; these include Cardiff, Conway, Newport, Wrexham, Gwynedd, Caerphilly, Flintshire, Pembrokeshire, Vale of Glamorgan, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, Powys, Monmouthshire, Anglesey and Carmarthenshire.

2009 is a crucial year for climate change with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December to agree a new international climate deal that will come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto treaty expires in 2012.

Speaking from the Senedd today Bethan Jenkins AM said:

“Climate change is a very real global threat and we must all do what we can to reduce our impact on the environment. This is a chance for local people and business to be part of a world-wide event on climate change by simply switching their lights off for one hour. By taking small individual steps like turning off lights and computers, together we can make a big collective difference for our planet and for future generations.”

Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru said:

“WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple way for people to show their support for strong action on climate change. We very much welcome the support of AMs and the participation of the Welsh Assembly Government itself. It promises to be the biggest show of support ever, involving communities from around the world in a dramatic hour of action on climate change.”

ENDS